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PRESS PHOTO BY SUSAN BRYANTGeorge Yanochko of Cetronia and Sandy Smith, a resident of Cedarbrook Senior Care and Rehabilitation Center, South Whitehall, took off Aug. 26 on Yanochko’s Harley Davidson for a ride throughout the neighborhood near the senior home to fulfill Smith’s dream of riding a motorcycle one more time.

press photos by susan bryantMegan, Rob, Ron, April, Autumn, (front) Lisa and Becca Jackson, all of Quakertown, speak with their aunt, Sandy Smith, a resident of Cedarbrook, before her motorcycle ride.

Sandy Smith (center) is joined by Second Wind Dreams volunteer staff Andrea Elwood, Susan Moyer and Geri Squires and fellow bikers Brenda Faust of Fogelsville, Richard and Mallory Squires of Walnutport, Dan Elwood of Coopersburg, Richie Squires of East Allen Township and George Yanochko of Cetronia after her motorcycle ride.

Senior biker rides again

Second Wind Dreams recently helped Sandy Smith, 83, a resident of Cedarbrook Senior Care and Rehabilitation Center, South Whitehall, fulfill her dream of riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle one more time.

Smith, who owned and rode a Harley Davidson, said she began riding motorcycles in the 1960s when she was 25.

“I was tired of holding on when my husband was driving the bike,” she said. “The last I rode before today was about 24 years ago.”

Smith, who was raised and lived in Bethlehem, married Lester Smith in 1957 at age 21.

The couple had two children, Susan and Dan.

Smith attended Allentown School of Business after going to high school in Bethlehem.

Before working at Guardian Insurance for several years, she was a cafeteria worker.

Lisa Jackson, Smith’s niece-in-law commented on how her dream of riding a motorcycle came about.

“One day, Geri Squires, her nurse, was talking to Sandy about her dream and when she spoke to her about riding motorcycles, Sandy’s eyes lit up,” Jackson said. “We would really like to thank Cedarbrook and Second Wind Dreams for making this happen for Sandra.

“She had the biggest smile we haven’t seen in a long time.”

George Yanochko of Cetronia spoke with The Press about why he volunteered to help make Smith’s dream a reality.

He said Susan Moyer contacted him about Smith’s dream because she knew I rode a motorcycle when I came to see my late wife, Karen, when she resided at Cedarbrook.

“I decided to do the ride to give back to Second Wind Dreams and make Sandy’s dream come true,” Yanochko said.

When Yanochko’s wife was a resident at Cedarbrook, Second Wind Dreams fulfilled a dream for her.

“I was more than happy to make someone else’s dream come true,” he said.

Moyer, treasurer with Second Wind Dreams, said the group heard about Smith’s dream from Squires, Smith’s nurse and a member of Second Wind Dreams, South Whitehall District Committee.

Moyer said Second Wind Dreams has been in existence locally at Cedarbrook since 2011.

“We are a local chapter of an international nonprofit organization whose mission is to enhance the quality of life for those living in eldercare communities like ours and to change the perception of aging,” Moyer said. We do this by fulfilling dreams of older adults.”

Moyer said dreams can be as simple as attending a family reunion or as difficult as flying an airplane.

“We search the community for help and assistance, along with the volunteers and community we do our best to make dreams happen,” Moyer said. All the work done by staff and others is volunteering of time.

“We have fundraisers and donations to make the money to fulfill the dreams.”

To learn more about Second Wind Dreams, visit secondwind.org or call 610-336-5681.